Major Updates to Xbox Game Pass
Microsoft has announced significant adjustments to the Game Pass service, including a rebranding of its tiers. This change aims to simplify the tracking of available games and features across Xbox consoles, PC, and cloud gaming.
Price Increase for Game Pass Ultimate
However, one downside is the steep price hike. The premium tier, Game Pass Ultimate, now costs $30 per month, which is a 50% increase from the previous $20 monthly fee, and there are no options for annual or quarterly subscriptions to soften the blow.
Substantial Annual Costs
This latest change results in the Game Pass Ultimate membership costing nearly double in just 15 months. Last July, Microsoft raised the fee from $17 to $20. With the new price, Game Pass Ultimate now totals $360 per year, more than double that of PlayStation Plus Premium, which currently stands at $160 for an annual subscription.
Additional Price Raises on Xbox Consoles
Recently, Microsoft also announced a price increase for its Xbox Series X/S consoles, effective this Friday in the US. Moreover, the newly available ROG Xbox Ally handheld is priced at $1,000. There’s also a price bump for PC Game Pass, going from $12 to $16.50 per month, making it increasingly costly for Xbox fans.
Expansion of Game Pass Ultimate
In addition to the price increase, Microsoft is enhancing Game Pass Ultimate with over 45 new games, including various titles from Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry, primarily due to the integration of Ubisoft+ into the subscription, which costs around $16 monthly.
New Features for Ultimate Subscribers
Ultimate members will gain access to Fortnite Crew on November 18, which includes benefits like a battle pass and in-game currency valued at about $12 per month. Microsoft’s claims of adding over 75 day-one titles annually may provide added value for subscribers, along with a library featuring more than 400 games, including those from EA Play.
Changes to Other Game Pass Tiers
Aside from Ultimate, other tiers are also evolving. Standard subscribers will transition to Premium, while Game Pass Core members will obtain the Essential plan, both of which will maintain their current pricing at $15 and $10, respectively. Premium has received over 40 new games, including titles like Diablo IV.
